Valve arrangement for flowable substances to be discharged from a container by a fluid propellant

ABSTRACT

A valve system for the discharge of a flowable substance from a pressure-tight container by a fluid propellant. The valve has a stem with a central bore for the discharge of the fluid. The stem has a second passage open to the free end of the stem and adapted to be brought into communication with a portion of the air-tight container. To this purpose the stem has a transverse bore which can be connected with the interior of the container through an opening of the housing if the stem is in the opened position. In the closed portion of the stem the transverse bore is closed by an annular seal, preferably by the seal between the dome portion of the valve cup and the valve housing. By this measure the fluid to be discharged can be discharged concurrently with gas or another propellant. This joint discharge can also be used for a mixing up of the fluids.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention refers to a valve arrangement for the discharge of flowable substances from a pressure-tight container by means of a fluid propellant within the container.

[0004] Various valves are known for different aerosol packs or systems. Usually, the propellant is within the pressure-tight container and pressed into the container through the valve attached thereto. Since the flow passages in the valve are relatively narrow, it is also known to introduce the propellant between a seal which seals a valve housing relative to a dome portion of the valve cup and the valve cup. From DE 200 02 335 it has become known to provide a valve system for the discharge of for example beverages from larger containers which for example have a volume of 2 liters by means of a gaseous propellant. A passage is selectively provided between a valve stem and an annular seal located in a dome portion of the valve cup in order to achieve a free passage from the interior of the container to an outlet thereof. Upon a pushing of the valve stem downwards, gaseous propellant may flow laterally along the stem into the interior and propels the fluid within the container through a bore in the stem.

[0005] The propellant within the container has the one goal to propel the fluid out of the pressure-tight container. It has the further goal to distribute the fluid in a desired manner, e.g. to spray it. This is no problem with liquid media. However, if viscous media are to be sprayed, e.g. gels or oils, problems occur. It is also known to include a substance to be sprayed in a separate bag within a pressurized container. The bag is welded pressure-tight to the valve (bag on valve). The substance within the bag is pressed outwardly through the gas pressure within the container. With this arrangement it is particularly difficult to spray a viscous substance in a desired manner.

[0006] Frequently, the problem exists to discharge two separately stored substances contemporarily and to mix them up in a discharge or spray head. In this case, such substances react upon engagement with another, e.g. with hair colouring fluids.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a valve system for liquid substances to be discharged from pressure-tight containers such that also more viscous substances could be sprayed or atomized and which allows a contemporary discharge of two substances.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the valve system according to the invention the valve stem has a further passage open to the outer end of the stem and connected to a second transverse bore which is connected to the outer side of the stem. In the closed position of the valve system or the stem, respectively, the second transverse bore is blocked by the first seal while in the opened position a connection between the further passage in the stem and the interior of the container is established through the transverse bore. When the valve system is opened not only fluid flows through the central bore of the stem for discharge purposes into a dispensing or spray head, rather, the gas from the container flows into the second passage of the stem and thus is discharged with the fluid. The gas which is under relatively high pressure enriches the fluid to be discharged with gas and supports the desired spraying effect.

[0009] In the invention, it has been recognized that propellants even in a liquid state within the container are in a gaseous phase in the upper portion of the container. This gas can be used to be introduced into the further passage of the stem when the valve is in the open position.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous to use a valve according to the invention for containers wherein the fluid to be discharged is within a bag in the container.

[0011] Instead of supporting the discharge of the fluid or substance, the second medium under pressure can be used to be brought into a reaction with the first substance in that both substances meet in the spray head and are mixed therein. This method can for example be used with hair colouring means. For this it is mandatory that both substances are stored in separate spaces. For discharge purposes a propellant is necessary, in particular a propellant gas which exerts a pressure onto a first substance within a bag and onto the second fluid outside the bag. In this case, the container has to be held upside down so that also the second substance can be discharged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in subclaims. Embodiment examples of the invention are subsequently described along accompanying drawings wherein

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a valve according to the invention in closed position

[0014]FIG. 2 shows the valve of FIG. 1 in open position

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a valve similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in closed position and with a bag welded thereon and

[0016]FIG. 4 shows the valve of FIG. 3 in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein a specific preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment illustrated.

[0018] The valve shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a valve cup 10 which for example is formed of sheet material. It includes a dome portion 12 and a radial flange 14 with an outer sealing ring 16. The flange 14 is to be attached to an opening of a container not shown and fixed thereto by a press forming operation. The container may have a usual format and contain an arbitrary substance to be discharged, in particular a relatively viscous substance as for example gel, oil or the like. Furthermore, a fluid propellant is within the container for discharging the substance in a manner as known per se.

[0019] The dome portion 12 accommodates the upper cylindrical portion 18 of a sleeve-shaped housing 20. The housing can be called a retainer for a rising pipe not shown. To this purpose a tube or pipe is connected with the lower end of housing 20, the pipe or tube being extended to the lower end of the container not shown. The substance to be propelled is introduced into such pipe or tube. Portion 18 is pressed into the dome portion 12 by a pressure or bending forming process, the upper end of the housing triangular in cross section engages an annular seal which in turn is engaging a top portion of dome portion 12.

[0020] The housing 20 below portion 18 has a plurality of stepped portions 24, 26 and 28 which in turn have a smaller inner and outer diameter. A stem 32 is extended through the upper central opening 30 of the top portion of dome portion 12 and through the annular seal. The stem through the maximum of its length is substantially cylindrical and has a central bore 34. Bore 34 of stem 32 is closed at the lower end. Adjacent to the lower end a plurality of radial bores 36 is provided which connect bore 34 to the outer side of stem 32.

[0021] Stem 32 further is provided with an annular passage 33 which concentrically surrounds bore 34 and which through a transverse bore 35 is connected to the outer side of stem 32 in the area of seal 22. In the closed position shown in FIG. 1 the transverse bore 35 is sealingly blocked by seal ring 22. The cylindrical portion of stem 32 below sealing 22 is embraced by a sleeve 42. At the upper end sleeve 42 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial ribs 44 which join into radial ribs at the upper end thereof. The sleeve 42 is supported on seal ring 22 through ribs 44 and laterally secured by a housing portion 24 of housing 20. In the area between portions 18 and 24 below ribs 44 housing 20 has a plurality of openings 46 a.

[0022] A second seal ring 46 is located below sleeve 42 which closes bores 36 in the closed position of stem 32 shown in FIG. 1. Seal ring 46 is supported from below through a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 48 extending parallel to the axis of housing 20. A coil spring 50 which is supported by circumferentially spaced ribs 42 extending parallel to the axis of portion 28 acts on the lower end of stem 32 and bias it upwardly into the closed position shown in FIG. 1. An axial projection 52 a extends into spring 50 which is guided on the outer side by ribs 54.

[0023] If stem 32 as shown in FIG. 2 is pressed downwardly against spring 50 the transverse bores 36 become free and the substance contained in the container not shown may flow along line 56 between ribs 32 and ribs 48, the transverse bore 36 and the passage 34 outwardly in order to be discharged through a discharging head not shown. Contemporarily a flow path 60 is opened through transverse bores 35 into the annular passage 33. In the opened position of stem 32 the transverse bore 35 is in communication with the space below cup 12 so that the gas of the upper portion of the container not shown can be discharged through annular passage 33 in order to support the discharge of the fluid to be discharged.

[0024] The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the same valve arrangement as that of FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, the same parts are provided with the same reference numbers. The difference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is to be seen in a laminated bag 62 which is sealingly welded to portion 28 of housing 20. A relatively viscous substance is within bag 62. Outside of the bag in the container not shown a gaseous propellant is included by means of which the contents of the bag can be discharged through the path 56 already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 towards a discharge head not shown. Furthermore, upon actuation of the valve arrangement gas is separately supplied to the substance in order to influence the discharge operation.

[0025] The separately supplied gas can be used to react with the fluid to be discharged in order to obtain a mixture, e.g. a hair colouring means.

[0026] Finally, a second substance outside the bag within the container can be discharged through the path shown by a propellant which contemporarily generates the pressure onto the bag. In order to achieve a secure discharge of the second substance, it is appropriate to hold the container with the valve arrangement upside down. In this position the second substance is collected in the valve area of the container and the propellant is collected in the bottom area thereof. However, it is also possible to connect a riser tube with the valve system through opening 46 a (not shown) which extends downwards into the container. In this case, the discharge is possible in the normal position of the container.

[0027] The above Examples and disclosure are intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. Thee examples and description still suggest many variations and alternatives of one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the attached claims. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve arrangement for flowable substances to be discharged from a pressure-tight container by means of a fluid propellant within the container, comprising a dome portion and a flange surrounding the dome portion and being adapted to be sealingly attached on an opening of the container, the dome portion having a central opening, a sleeve-shaped housing having an upper and a lower end, the upper end being adapted to be fixed to the dome portion and having an opening connecting the interior of the container with the interior of the housing, a first annular seal between the ends of the sleeve-shaped housing and the dome portion, a hollow valve stem which has an axis and an axial passage and extends through the central opening of the dome portion and the annular seal, the valve stem having a transverse bore at the lower end which communicates the interior of the valve stem with the interior of the valve housing, spring means which bias the valve stem upwardly into the closed position wherein the stem and the first seal ring block an outlet of the container which is free in the opened position of the valve arrangement and a second annular seal which is axially secured in the interior of the sleeve-shaped valve housing and closes a transverse bore in the closed position of the valve stem and opens the transverse bore in the open position of the valve stem, the stem having a second passage extending parallel to the axis of the stem and being open to the upper end of the stem and a second transverse bore being in communication with the second passage, the second transverse bore being arranged such that in the closed position of the valve stem it is blocked by the first seal and in the open position of the valve stem is in communication with the interior of the container through an opening of the housing.
 2. The valve system of claim 1, wherein the second passage in the stem is annularly cylindrical.
 3. The valve system of claim 1, wherein a bag, preferably a laminated bag, is welded to the housing, and the second passage in the opened position of the valve stem is connected with the container outside the bag.
 4. The valve system of claim 1, wherein the housing is surrounded by a sleeve which is located between both annular seals, and the second annular seal is supported on a shoulder of the housing having at least an axial passage therethrough.
 5. The valve system of claim 4, wherein the sleeve has circumferentially spaced ribs supported by a first annular seal.
 6. The valve system of claim 4, wherein the second annular seal is supported by ribs of the valve housing.
 7. The valve system of claim 1, wherein the stem has a radial shoulder which in the closed position engages the second annular seal.
 8. The valve system of claim 1, wherein the valve housing has a shoulder through which a passage extends, the spring with the lower end thereof is supported by the shoulder, and at the outer side of the spring a path is provided to the second annular seal. 